5 Energy-Saving Tips For Your Coachella Valley Area Home
Hydes supports the cities of Palm Desert, Palm Springs and Indio in its ambitious goal of reducing energy consumption by 30%. We install only energy-efficient HVAC equipment that helps local homeowners use less power and make less impact on our planet and climate.
How can you help the Coachella Valley area be a more energy-efficient city? As we all know by now, energy efficiency starts at home. There are many ways to increase the energy efficiency of your home.
Here are some suggestions for things you can do to cut energy use right away.
1. Seal Air Leaks
Every home has a few air leaks here and there, but if there are too many cracks and crevices where conditioned air can escape, you’re wasting energy and money. Identify where there air leaks are and then get to work sealing those holes. Depending on how big a problem this is in your home, you should see results (i.e., a lower energy bill) almost immediately. Need help with this? Hydes is here for you!
2. Keep Up With Your HVAC Maintenance
Your HVAC system is responsible for about 60% of your monthly energy use, so keeping it in peak condition is vital. A properly tuned cooling system can save you 10% or more on your energy costs. Proper maintenance also encourages longer equipment life. Ask how our Hydes Family Comfort Plans can help you.
3. Install A Programmable Thermostat
By adjusting your temperatures based on time of day, you can use less energy when your home is empty or when you are sleeping. A programmable thermostat automatically makes these adjustments for you and can also let you know when you need to change your air filters, making it an inexpensive change that can save you 15% or more off your annual energy bills.
4. Change Your Air Filters
This is one of the easiest things you can do to conserve energy. Dirty filters slow air flow, making your system work harder and increasing your energy use. For the best air flow and lowest energy use in your home, make sure you change your filters once every 30-90 days.
5. Seal Your Ducts
It’s estimated that 20%-40% of conditioned air is lost by broken and improperly sealed ductwork. Not only does this raise your electric bill, it makes your cooling system work harder and can shorten your equipment life. Hydes can ensure that your ducts are sealed and not driving up your energy usage.
Save Energy While Working At Home
While many of us adapt to working from home, it’s natural for our electricity use to increase. However, there are several things you can do to save energy and keep your monthly bill from growing exponentially.
Check out a few of our tips on how to save energy amid the COVID-19 restrictions.
Illuminate Energy Savings
There are several ways you can save energy when it comes to lighting!
- Consider keeping your curtains open during the day in order to let natural light in and cut down on artificial sources.
- As an added bonus, opening your windows at dusk and dawn can help cool your home.
- LED lighting can also be installed in on or multiple rooms to upgrade your home’s current fixtures and minimize energy use.
Be Mindful of Vampire Devices
Energy vampires are appliances that continue to use power even when they have been turned off by going into standby mode. Such devices include:
- Cellphone chargers
- Standby coffee makers
- Video game consoles
- Garage door openers
- Stereos
To avoid unnecessary energy consumption, unplug your appliances until they are needed. Additionally, you can plug your appliances into a power strip and switch it off when you want to cut down on electricity use.
Cook with Care
Rather than using your oven, consider making use of your microwave, slow cooker or toaster to prepare meals. This is because conventional ovens can consume anywhere from 50%-80% more energy than smaller cooking appliances.
There are many other ways to keep your kitchen energy-efficient, such as:
- Prep and defrost your food before turning on cooking equipment.
- Keep lids on pots while cooking.
- Use proper cookware such as copper-bottomed pots and pans, which heat up faster.
